Proverbs 20
1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
清酒令人輕狂，醇酒使人發瘋；凡沉溺於酒的，必不是明智人。
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
君王震怒，有如獅子的咆哮；觸怒他的，危害自己的性命。
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
平息爭端，是人的光榮；凡是愚人，都喜愛爭論。
4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
懶惰人一寒冷，便不耕作；收獲之時，他必一無所獲。
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
人心的謀略，有如深水，唯有聰明人，纔能汲取。
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
自命為仁者，比比皆是；但有誰找到忠貞的人﹖
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
正義的人，必然為人正直；他的後代子孫，必然有福。
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
君王高坐在判座上，所有邪惡一目了然。
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
有誰能說：「我保持了心靈的潔淨，我是純潔無罪的﹖」
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
不同的衡量，不同的升斗：二者皆為上主同樣厭惡。
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
孩童的行為，潔淨正執直與否，由他的舉動便可認出。
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
能聽的耳朵，能看的眼睛：二者皆為上主所造。
13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
不要貪睡眠，免得你受窮；兩眼睜開，纔能得飽食。
14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
顧客常說：「不好，不好! 」但一離去，讚不絕口。
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
雖有大批黃金寶石，但最寶貴的，還是明智的唇舌。
16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
誰為外方人作保，拿去他的衣服；誰為異邦人作保，以他本人作質。
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
騙來的食物頗覺香甜，事後口中卻滿是砂礫。
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
運籌帷幄，必先要商討；進行戰事，必該憑智謀。
19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
遊蕩閒談的，必洩露秘密；張口饒舌的，別與他交結。
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
凡是辱罵自己父母的人，他的燈必在幽暗中熄滅。
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
起初容易得來的財物，最後也不會得到祝福。
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
你切不可說：「我以惡報惡；」應信賴上主，他必拯救你。
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
不同的衡量，為上主所惡；不同的天秤，實屬不道德。
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
世人的腳步，由上主支配；人那能了解自己的道路﹖
25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
人若冒然說「聖，」許願後纔反省，這是自投羅網。
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
智慧的君王簸揚惡人，且用車輪來壓軋他們。
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
人的靈魂是天主的燈，探照肺腑的一切隱密。
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
仁愛和忠誠，是君王的保障；他的寶座，是賴慈愛而支撐。
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
少年人的光榮，在於他們的魄力；老年人的榮耀，在於他們的白髮。
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
見傷的鞭打能清除邪惡，杖擊能觸及肺腑的深處。
